Free help lines in Montana

Medicaid and help paying Medicare costs

Medicaid (Office of Public Assistance)

Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services

• Phone 1-888-706-1535 Public Assistance Helpline; you can also apply at your local Office of Public Assistance
• Hours Mon-Fri 8:00 am-5:00 pm (office hours)
• Website dphhs.mt.gov/hcsd/officeofpublicassistance
• Online apply.mt.gov

Checked 2026-10-18 on dphhs.mt.gov

Food help (SNAP)

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services

• Phone 1-888-706-1535 Public Assistance Helpline
• Website dphhs.mt.gov/HCSD/SNAP
• Online apply.mt.gov

Checked 2026-10-18 on dphhs.mt.gov

Free Medicare counseling

State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)

Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Senior and Long Term Care Division

• Phone 1-800-551-3191
• Website dphhs.mt.gov/sltc/aging/SHIP

Checked 2026-10-18 on dphhs.mt.gov

Aging services and local help

Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) / Area Agencies on Aging

Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Senior and Long Term Care Division

• Phone 406-444-4077 Senior and Long Term Care Division main line; local ADRC numbers are listed on the ADRC page
• Website dphhs.mt.gov/sltc/aging/adrc
• Online montana.my-adrc.org

Checked 2026-10-18 on dphhs.mt.gov

Help with energy bills

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Intergovernmental Human Services Bureau

• Phone 1-800-332-2272 Applications go to your local eligibility office (Oct 1-Apr 30)
• Website dphhs.mt.gov/hcsd/energyassistance

Checked 2026-10-18 on acf.gov

Report abuse, neglect or exploitation

Adult Protective Services (APS)

Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services

• Phone 1-844-277-9300 For emergencies, call 911
• Hours Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding holidays
• Website dphhs.mt.gov/SLTC/APS

Checked 2026-10-18 on dphhs.mt.gov

Nursing home and assisted living complaints

Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP)

Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Office on Aging

• Phone 1-800-332-2272 Available during normal business hours; for emergencies call 911
• Website dphhs.mt.gov/sltc/aging/longtermcareombudsman

Checked 2026-10-18 on dphhs.mt.gov

Report Medicare fraud and billing errors

Montana Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)

Missoula Aging Services

• Phone 1-800-551-3191 In-state line; SMP office 406-728-7682
• Website missoulaagingservices.org/get-help/medicare-finances/senior-medicare-patrol.html

Checked 2026-10-18 on smpresource.org

Insurance questions and complaints

Insurance Consumer Services

Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, Office of the Montana State Auditor

• Phone 1-800-332-6148 Life and health insurance: 406-444-2524; all other insurance: 406-444-3525
• Hours 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Website csimt.gov
• Online csimt.gov/insurance-complaints-fraud
• Email [email protected]

Checked 2026-10-18 on csimt.gov

Scams and consumer complaints

Office of Consumer Protection

Montana Department of Justice

• Phone 1-800-481-6896 Local: 406-444-4500
• Website dojmt.gov/office-of-consumer-protection
• Online app.doj.mt.gov/OCPPortal/?q=node/395

Checked 2026-10-18 on dojmt.gov

Social Security national line

Social Security Administration

Call about retirement, disability, survivor or SSI benefits, Social Security cards, Medicare enrollment and replacement Medicare cards.

• Phone 1-800-772-1213
• TTY 1-800-325-0778
• Hours Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time; automated phone services 24 hours a day
• Languages Spanish and other-language pages at ssa.gov/es and ssa.gov/multilanguage
• Website ssa.gov
• Online Sign in to or create a my Social Security account (benefit letters, SSA-1099, direct deposit, address change, Statement)

Waits are usually shorter in the morning and later in the week and month. The automated line, open 24 hours, can send a benefit letter, a replacement SSA-1099 or Medicare card, and change your address or phone. Find a local office at ssa.gov/locator.

Checked on www.ssa.gov

1-800-MEDICARE

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Call about Medicare coverage, claims, bills, plan choices and enrollment, drug plans, and to report suspected Medicare fraud or file complaints.

• Phone 1-800-633-4227 (1-800-MEDICARE)
• TTY 1-877-486-2048
• Hours 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (except some federal holidays); live chat same hours
• Languages Ask for an interpreter (medicare.gov/about-us/other-languages)
• Website medicare.gov
• Online Live chat with Medicare

This is also how to reach the Medicare Beneficiary Ombudsman: if your plan or 1-800-MEDICARE has not solved a problem, ask the representative to send your complaint to the Ombudsman. Drug and Medicare Advantage plan complaints can also be filed online at medicare.gov/my/medicare-complaint.

Checked on www.medicare.gov

Medicare quality help line (QIO)

Acentra Health

Appeal if you think a hospital, nursing home or other Medicare provider is ending your care too soon, or complain about the quality of care.

• Phone 1-888-317-0891
• TTY 711
• Hours Weekdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; weekends and holidays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (local time)
• Website acentraqio.com

Checked on acentraqio.com

Eldercare Locator

U.S. Administration for Community Living (run by USAging)

Find local help for older adults and caregivers: Area Agency on Aging, meals, transportation, in-home care, caregiver support, legal help and more.

• Phone 1-800-677-1116
• TTY 711
• Hours Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern
• Languages Spanish-speaking specialist by phone; interpretation in 150 languages during business hours
• Website eldercare.acl.gov
• Email [email protected]

TTY users: call 711 and ask the relay operator to connect you to 1-800-677-1116.

Checked on eldercare.acl.gov

National Elder Fraud Hotline

U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime

For people 60+ (or family) who lost money or were targeted by fraud; case managers help you report it and connect to resources.

• Phone 1-833-372-8311 (1-833-FRAUD-11)
• Hours Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern
• Website justice.gov/elderjustice/find-help-or-report-abuse
• Online Elder Justice locator for state and local resources

Checked on www.justice.gov

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (funded by SAMHSA)

Call, text or chat any time if you or someone you care about is in emotional distress, a mental health or substance use crisis, or thinking about suicide.

• Phone 988
• Text 988
• Hours 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Languages Spanish: press 2 when calling; Spanish text and chat available; interpretation services offered
• Website 988lifeline.org
• Online Chat with a counselor online

Phone menu: press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line, press 2 for Spanish. Free and confidential. In immediate danger, call 911.

Checked on 988lifeline.org